Jordan Hooper had 8 points and 8 rebounds to help the U.S. team past Mali.

Photo Courtesy Scott Bruhn/NU Media Relations

Courtesy: NU Media Relations

07/08/2013

Kazan, Russia - Nebraska's Jordan Hooper scored eight points and grabbed eight rebounds to help the USA Basketball Women's World University Games Team roll to a 120-32 victory over Mali in the first game of Pool B play on Monday.

Hooper, a 6-2 senior forward from Alliance, Neb., added an assist and two blocked shots in 16 minutes of action for the United States. She scored six points to help spark a 25-3 U.S. run. The two-time All-American converted a traditional three-point play to put the United States up 35-17 with 6:23 left in the first half to open the surge. She added a three-pointer with 1:06 remaining in the half to give the U.S. team a 55-20 cushion. Hooper contributed her final points of the game off an assist from Odyssey Sims (Baylor) with 2:53 left to give the United States a 111-30 lead.

Mali jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead, before the United States answered with an 18-0 run that included eight straight points by Tricia Liston (Duke). Mali responded with seven straight points to cut the margin to 18-12 with 3:49 left in the first quarter, before Bria Hartley (UConn), Cassie Harberts (USC) and Ariel Massengale (Tennessee) combined to score the final nine points of the quarter.

The United States led 28-12 at the end of the first quarter, before building a 57-20 halftime edge. The margin grew to 94-28 after three quarters.

Hartley led six U.S. players in double figures with 17 points, including 12 in the first half, while Harberts (USC) added 14 points in the first three quarters. Liston pitched in 13 points, including 11 in the first half. Shoni Schimmel (Louisville) added 13 points of her own, including 11 in the second half. Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis contributed 12 points, including 10 points in the final four minutes. Aaryn Ellenberg (Oklahoma) rounded out the six U.S. players in double figures with 11 points.

As a team, the United States hit 66.2 percent of its shots from the field, including 36-of-48 two-point attempts (75 percent) and 11-of-23 three-pointers (47.8 percent). The U.S. squad was also 15-of-16 (93.8 percent) from the free throw line. Team USA outrebounded Mali, 54-21, and dished out 34 assists on its 47 made baskets while committing just 13 turnovers on the day.

Aminata Mariko led Mali with 15 points, while Farima Toure added five points. Mali went 12-of-62 (19.4 percent) from the field, including 2-of-12 (16.7 percent) from three-point range. Mali was 6-for-8 at the free throw line, but committed 21 turnovers.

The USA Basketball Women's World University Games Team continues play in Pool B on Tuesday by taking on the Czech Republic. Tip-off is set for 11:30 a.m.